Photographer Attacked by Pit Bull in Ocean Beach

In October 2009, local photographer Jim Grant witnessed and photographed the shooting of a pit bull that was running loose at the Ocean Beach farmers’ market. San Diego police tried to corral the dog but were forced to kill it in the Hodad's parking lot after it attacked a police officer.

On Tuesday, June 12, Grant was bitten on the forearm by a pit bull near the boardwalk at the foot of Newport Avenue. The next day, Grant told Channel 10 News that he he fought off the dog by kneeing it in the chest. He said the dog's owner witnessed the attack but “took off the minute he saw I was making a phone call. He grabbed his dog, put the dog in his vehicle, and sped out of the parking lot.”

Grant left a comment on an online forum that included a description: white male 25–35 years old, thin build, long brown hair. Car was a Subaru wagon, rust colored. Dog: female pit bull, 60–80 pounds.

The photographer was treated by nearby San Diego lifeguards, who assured Grant that the bite was not severe enough to take precautions against rabies.

Two nights ago, three pit bulls attacked and killed a baby in the family household in South Bay. Ordinary licenses won't protect people from this breed of dog -- and don't bother to write testimony about how "sweet" some can be. These dogs are frequently unpredictably vicious and deadly. How many incidents like this will be tolerated and explained away? Culpable pit bull owners need to be held seriously accountable for the behavior of their dogs.

You're 100% wrong about this "breed" of dogs. Pit Bulls are NO DIFFERENT from any other large, powerful breed dog, be it Bulldog, German Shepherd, Dobie, Rottie, Dog, Mastiiff...etc....you get the picture. I hate it when people try to claim there is something inherently vicious and dangerous about any "breed", it is simply not true. Pit Bulls are awesome, loyal, highly trainable, sweet affectionate dogs. I have several Pittie, as well as Chi's, Cocker Spaniels, Dalmatians, GS, Rotti.....they are all wonderful in their own way.

You're insane to imply that the photographer and officer might have done something to provoke the dog. What would that be? You list "burning them with cigarettes, cutting off ears," as examples. So you think the photographer might have burned the pitbull with a cigarette? Are you crazy?

Please note that when that dog was shot dead, it was a result of biting a cop. If it had just bitten a couple dozen innocent bystanders, it might still be alive. But anything/anyone, man or beast, that threatens or contacts a cop is dead meat.

When Chihuahuas attack, you get a little broken skin. When pit bulls attack you need reconstructive facial surgery.

Listen, lots of domesticated tigers are perfectly nice. The problem is, if they decide not to be one day, for whatever unpredictable reason, they can inflict very serious damage. Hence, we don't keep them as pets.

Pit bulls are the same. The jaw strength they possess is frightening.

Do you see the point, Mindy and surf puppy? Even if we grant that pit bulls are no more unpredictable than other breeds -- and that's a lot to grant -- it's what pit bulls can and tend to do when they go out of control that makes them irresponsible to own, especially in a dense neighborhood full of kids, elderly, and unpredictable noise.

Get real, comparing a dog to a tiger?????.....you cannot be serious. I also hate to break the news to you but a GS, Rottie, Mastiff, Bulldog and numerous OTHER bullie breeds have "frightening" jaw strength also- so lets ban all dogs with jaw strength. You try to make the false claim that Pitties are some extraordinary dog b/c of "jaw strength", baloney.
Pit Bulls are the most popular dog in America, for a reason, and they aren't going anywhere. There are just as many GS, Rotti's, even labs that have killed "babues". The truth is you have no knowledge of Pits, or you're a dog hater, period.

Jim Grant -- people would believe this story if you had an actual doctor's note to confirm. Rumor from a friend of mine at the Beacon is that you made this up because you dislike dogs on Newport during Farmers Market, particularly pitbulls. First off, if it DID happen, don't do things to provoke people or their pets and they will leave you be. But from what you have told others and from the lack of evidence, what we have here is a self-created witch hunt--it just proves that you are part of a very tiny group of insipid village idiots who target pitbull and pitbull mix owners. Now either pretend you are living in the "SHOW ME" state and prove it, or get a LIFE.

What you did was approach the LifeGuard tower with what was described in the report as a "scratch." So unless you have a doctors note that you have a dog bite Mr Jim "PETER WOLF" Grant, no one buys this story...